Tsunami debris heading here

Millions of tons of debris that washed into the ocean during Japan's catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in March – everything from furniture to roofs to pieces of cars – are now moving steadily toward the United States and raising concerns about a potential environmental headache.

Fisherman loses arm in winch

Carl was shrimping with his son off the coast of Georgetown when his left arm got stuck in his shrimping boat winch. The powerful machine that pulls in shrimping boat nets, tore his arm off from his body.

Rescue off Newport

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people that had abandoned ship approximately seven miles northwest of Newport, Ore., Monday. The 29-foot Sea Star called out a mayday at 6 p.m. reporting that the vessel was taking on water.

Coast Guard suspends Alaska search

The Coast Guard suspends the search for a fisherman who fell overboard off a 24-foot fishing vessel near Goodnews Bay, 97 miles south of Bethel, Monday at 4:45 p.m.

A coordinated search for the missing fisherman covering more than 130 square miles was conducted by a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, an Alaska State Trooper airplane crew and 10 good Samaritan fishing vessels.

Halibut schooner video

Tordenskjold, Boat of the Century, a salute to the old halibut schooners that still work today, premieres statewide on 360 North TV on Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Alaska Public Television. It will be followed on Westward into the Twenty-First Century at 9 p.m., 11 p.m., and midnight. The documentary returns to APB on Sunday at 7 p.m., again followed by Westward at 8 p.m.

Leatherback turtle protection OK'd

The Obama administration agreed Tuesday to protect an area of Pacific coastal waters by November as critical habitat for the endangered leatherback sea turtle, settling a lawsuit by conservation groups.

Leatherback protection vs. wave power

Waters outside the Golden Gate would be protected to provide a safe haven for the world's heaviest reptiles under a plan that could jeopardize nascent efforts to develop ocean-based renewable energy plants.

Pelican struggles for prosperity

The Chichagof Island city of Pelican has long prided itself on being "closest to the fish." Its placement in Lisianski Inlet made it an ideal spot for fishermen to drop off their catch and quickly head back out to the fishing grounds.

Fighting spilled oil

In an effort to bring top quality, more eco-friendly shellfish to market, particularly in light of economic losses from the recent oil spill disaster, Louisiana's shrimp industry have begun testing a sulphite-free liquid enzyme treatment to prevent melanosis, or black spot, in harvested shellfish.

Cruise ships vs. Alaska fishing memorial

The Alaska Commercial Fishermen's Memorial board has stated its position on moving the memorial: Don't build the cruise ship docks in front of the memorial, or, if the docks must be built there, relocate the memorial to Marine Park.

Marine organisms dying quickly

Not only are we already experiencing severe declines in many species to the point of commercial extinction in some cases, and an unparalleled rate of regional extinctions of habitat types (mangroves and seagrass meadows), but we now face losing marine species and entire marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, within a single generation.